PRINTER NONUNIFORMITY COMPENSATION FOR HALFTONE SCREENS - Compensation is performed for nonuniformity in a printer. The printer has a photoreceptor and a print head with a plurality of different light sources, each light source capable of producing a plurality of different levels of light. A plurality of stored gain control signals for each light source are related to the light output of that light source. Print job data includes screened pixel levels and a halftone screen specification. The stored gain control signals are adjusted based on the halftone screen specification. The screened pixel levels are modified using the adjusted gain control signals to provide engine pixel levels. Those levels are provided to corresponding light sources to expose the photoreceptor in respective pixel areas with light corresponding to the compensated pixel levels.

2012-10-25

20120268545

RIBBON CAPABLE OF ENHANCING CUTTING PRECISION - A ribbon includes at least one dye region, at least one separating region and at least one recognition dye region. Each of the dye regions includes a plurality of dye zones. The separating region is formed on a side of the dye region for separating different dye regions. The recognition dye region is formed on the separating region or formed within a range covered by the corresponding dye region. A thermal print head of a thermal sublimation printer transfers the dye region and the recognition dye region of the ribbon onto a print medium, so as to form an image area and a recognition mark on the print medium, correspondingly. A cutting mechanism of the thermal sublimation printer is used for cutting the print medium when a sensor of the thermal sublimation printer senses the recognition mark.

2012-10-25

20120268546

THERMAL SUBLIMATION PRINTER SYSTEM CAPABLE OF CUTTING PRINT MEDIA PRECISELY AND PRINT METHOD USING THE SAME - A thermal sublimation printer system for precisely cutting a print medium includes a feeding mechanism, a thermal print head, a sensor, a cutting mechanism and a control unit. The paper feeding mechanism is used for moving the print medium, and the thermal print head is used for transferring at least one dye region of a ribbon onto the print medium so as to form an image region on the print medium, correspondingly. The sensor is used for sensing a recognition mark on the print medium, and the cutting mechanism is used for cutting the print medium. The control unit is used for controlling the cutting mechanism to cut the print medium when the sensor senses the recognition mark.

2012-10-25

20120268547

MECHANISM FOR COATING LABORATORY MEDIA WITH PHOTO-SENSITIVE MATERIAL - A method for coating a laboratory print media with a photo-sensitive material may include generating, at a printer, a request to label a laboratory media. The laboratory media includes applying multiple coating layers to a laboratory print media to produce a human-readable and machine-readable label within a dedicated area of the print media. The multiple coating layers include at least a material based on photo-sensitive ink that is thermally-activated, and protected by a chemical and physical protective barrier/layer. The method may further include generating, using a printing mechanism, an image within the dedicated area of the print media. The image includes a laser-based image reflecting off of the photo-sensitive ink.

2012-10-25

20120268548

LASER PRINTER WITH MULTIPLE LASER-BEAM SOURCES - A laser printer arranged to print a pixellated image on laser sensitive tape includes a carriage on which are arranged two laser-beam sources delivering separately modulated laser-beams and optics for focusing the beams on the tape. The tape is mounted on a tape drive which drives the tape incrementally in one direction. The carriage is translated over the tape in a direction perpendicular to the tape-drive direction, while the modulated beams are focused. Two rows of the pixellated image are drawn across the tape in this manner. The tape is then incremented and a further two rows are drawn.

2012-10-25

20120268549

Wireless video conference system and multi-conference switching method thereof - The disclosure discloses a wireless video conference system, which comprises: a conference control module and a wireless conference switching module which are located at a system side, and a wireless video conference terminal module located in a wireless terminal, wherein the conference control module is configured, when a new conference is started, to send data information of the new conference and data information of an original conference to the wireless conference switching module; the wireless conference switching module is configured, when the new conference is started, to send a conference start instruction to the wireless terminal in a member list of the new conference, and to switch the wireless terminal to the new conference or maintain the wireless terminal in the original conference according to a conference switching instruction from the wireless terminal; and the wireless video conference terminal module is configured to receive the conference start instruction from the wireless conference switching module, and to send the conference switching instruction to the wireless conference switching module according to a choice of a user. The disclosure further discloses a multi-conference switching method in a wireless video conference system. By the disclosure, the multi-conference switching of the wireless terminal in the wireless video conference system is implemented.

2012-10-25

20120268550

INTEGRATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR FACILITIES USING A LOCAL AREA DATA COLLECTING AND RECORDING DEVICE - The present invention relates to an integrated control system for facilities using a local area data collecting and recording device. The present invention comprises: a CCTV/Web-Camera for taking moving images; a still camera for taking pictures; a data collection (DAQ) unit for collecting abnormal sounds; a hard disk for converting and synthesizing data signals into digital signals, and then storing the digital signals in a compressed file; a local data collecting and recording device; a wired and wireless communication network; a communication converter for conversion to a standard protocol; a distance central/local monitoring center server for performing monitoring; first and second monitors for observation; an analysis system for the precise analysis of an accident site; and an information provider for providing information to a local on-site worker, a manager and a department or agency concerned.

2012-10-25

20120268551

Image Interaction Device, Interactive Image Operating System, and Interactive Image Operating Method thereof - Before a large amount of information or messages is to be transmitted between image interaction devices, the information or messages are encoded into digital images to generate corresponding digital encoded images. When the digital encoded images are transmitted between the image interaction devices, the information or messages are transmitted along with the digital encoded images without introducing additional data transmission; and as a result, delay between the image interaction devices can be avoided, and real-time operations between the image interaction devices can be achieved.

2012-10-25

20120268552

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPOSITING IMAGE IN A PORTABLE TERMINAL - A method and apparatus for compositing images in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes acquiring a plurality of images; determining a composition region of each of the plurality of images; and compositing the plurality of images by using the composition regions of the plurality of images.

2012-10-25

20120268553

Flow-Control Based Switched Group Video Chat and Real-Time Interactive Broadcast - Real-time interactive broadcast sessions for client devices include: for each client device in the interactive broadcast session, configuring downstream video and audio ports for the interactive broadcast session between a central controller and the client device; receiving from each client device a selected broadcaster corresponding to a broadcaster flow control signal; in response to receiving the selected broadcaster from each client device, sending video and audio streams of the selected broadcaster to each client device over the interactive broadcast session; receiving a request from a given client device on the interactive broadcast session to interact with the selected broadcaster; configuring upstream and downstream video ports for one-to-one video chat session between the central controller and the given client device; and sending the video and audio streams of the given client device, and the video and audio streams of the selected broadcaster, to each client device over the interactive broadcast session.

2012-10-25

20120268554

APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR FORMING PANORAMIC IMAGE - An apparatus, and an associated method, for forming a panoramic image at a camera. Motion indicia is obtained by one or more sensors. The motion indicia is utilized by a camera controller to cause a panoramic image creator to create a segmented, panoramic image using image frames that permit the creation of the panoramic image of the desired configuration.

2012-10-25

20120268555

IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device that images an object image through an optical system; an image signal processing section having a function of combining a plurality of imaged images into a combined image piece, the imaged images being obtained while the imaging apparatus is swept; a position sensor capable of obtaining position information of the imaging apparatus; and a controller that processes information of the position sensor, wherein the controller sends a notification of an appropriate value of a sweeping angular velocity based on the detection information of the position sensor and outputs a warning signal when the sweeping angular velocity exceeds an appropriate range.

2012-10-25

20120268556

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING PANORAMIC IMAGE - A method of obtaining a panoramic image and an apparatus for the same are disclosed. In particular, a method of obtaining a panorama image and an apparatus for the same capable of obtaining a more clear panoramic image with reproducibility by extracting best-focused-images in case of forming images of multiple image-layer-trace images are disclosed. In accordance with the method and the device of this invention for obtaining the panoramic image, it is possible to complete the optimal image-layer-trace to be reconstructed and to obtain a clear panoramic image which vividly shows an arch of a patient by reconstructing a panoramic image for an optimal image-layer-trace most closely related to a focus-trace.

2012-10-25

20120268557

3D IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING 3D EFFECT THEREOF - Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) image processing apparatus and a method of adjusting a 3D effect thereof. The 3D image processing apparatus includes: a meta data analyzer which analyzes meta data about an input video signal and extracts, from the meta data, at least one auxiliary data usable in adjusting 3D effect information of the input video signal; a meta data processor which calculates a 3D effect adjusting value for adjusting the 3D effect information on the basis of the at least one extracted auxiliary data; and a 3D effect adjuster which adjusts the 3D effect information on the basis of the calculated 3D effect adjusting value, and adjusts the input video signal to have a 3D effect based on the adjusted 3D effect information.

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD - According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a display control module and a display mode changing module. The display control module displays in 2D display mode each of frame images of video content data which is a target of display, and displays, in first 3D display mode, a 3D image by using, as a left-eye image and a right-eye image, images on two areas in each of the frame images of the video content data which is the target of display. The display mode changing module changes a display mode of the display control module from the first 3D display mode to the 2D display mode if a switch request for switching the video content data, which is the target of display, to other video content data occurs while the display control module is displaying the video content data in the first 3D display mode.

2012-10-25

20120268560

VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS AND VIDEO PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a histogram generator configured to generate a histogram based on luminance levels of pixels represented by video signals; and a determination module configured to determine whether the video signals represent a stereoscopic video based on the histogram

2012-10-25

20120268561

GENERATION INTERPOLATION FRAMES - The instant application describes a stereoscopic video processing system that includes a vector detector configured to detect a motion vector associated with frames of an input video signal; an output image generator configured to generate an output video signal by generating interpolation frames, and arranging the frames of the input video signal and the interpolation frames along a time axis; an output controller configured to control interpolation phases associated with the interpolation frames; and a feature amount calculator configured to calculate a feature amount in image regions of the frames of the input video signal used for generating the interpolation frames. The output image generator is configured to generate the interpolation frames by generating an interpolation image in an image region having the feature amount larger than a threshold and by using the input video signals without change in other image regions.

2012-10-25

20120268562

IMAGE PROCESSING MODULE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF FOR 2D/3D IMAGES CONVERSION AND FRAME RATE CONVERSION - An image processing module including a depth acquiring unit, a motion estimation unit and a motion compensation unit is provided. The depth acquiring unit receives a plurality of original images and is configured to detect depth information of each original image. The motion estimation unit receives the original images and is configured to detect motion information of each original image. When the image processing module is in a normal mode, the motion estimation unit adjusts the motion information of each original image according to the detected depth information of each original image. The motion compensation unit performs interpolation and outputs a plurality of display images according to the original images and the adjusted motion information of each original image.

2012-10-25

20120268563

AUGMENTED AUDITORY PERCEPTION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED - A person is provided with the ability to auditorily determine the spatial geometry of his current physical environment. A spatial map of the current physical environment of the person is generated. The spatial map is then used to generate a spatialized audio representation of the environment. The spatialized audio representation is then output to a stereo listening device which is being worn by the person.

2012-10-25

20120268564

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND VIDEO DISPLAY METHOD - An electronic apparatus includes a camera, a tracking module, a three-dimensional video adjusting module, a display, and an output direction controller. The tracking module is configured to recognize a position of a user based on a video picked up by the camera. The three-dimensional video adjusting module is output one of first video data and second video data by adjusting an input three-dimensional video signal, the first video data corresponding to a first stereoscopic video that appears stereoscopically when viewed from a predetermined position, the second video data corresponding to a second stereoscopic video that appears stereoscopically when viewed from the recognized position of the user.

2012-10-25

20120268565

Operating Assembly Including Observation Apparatus, The Use of Such an Operating Assembly, and an Operating Facility - An operating assembly, in particular for a medical operating field, comprises an operating lighting apparatus having a lighting support arm mounted on a support to be independently pivotally movable, and observation apparatus comprising a camera support arm mounted on support to be independently pivotally moveable, a camera module with a camera support mounted to be pivotally movable relative to the camera support arm and drive means for driving the camera support, and control means for controlling the drive means. The camera module comprises two observation cameras, each of which has a vision axis and a vision direction, each end of the camera support carrying a camera so that the cameras are disposed on either side of an axis of symmetry passing through the middle of the camera support.

2012-10-25

20120268566

THREE-DIMENSIONAL COLOR IMAGE SENSORS HAVING SPACED-APART MULTI-PIXEL COLOR REGIONS THEREIN - A three-dimensional color image sensor includes color pixels and depth pixels therein. A semiconductor substrate is provided with a depth region therein, which extends adjacent a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A two-dimensional array of spaced-apart color regions are provided within the depth region. Each of the color regions includes a plurality of different color pixels therein (e.g., red, blue and green pixels) and each of the color pixels within each of the spaced-apart color regions are spaced-apart from all other color pixels within other color regions.

2012-10-25

20120268567

THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A three-dimensional measurement apparatus selects points corresponding to geometric features of a three-dimensional shape model of a target object, projects a plurality of selected points corresponding to the geometric features onto a range image based on approximate values indicating the position and orientation of the target object and imaging parameters at the time of imaging of the range image, searches regions of predetermined ranges respectively from the plurality of projected points for geometric features on the range image which correspond to the geometric features of the three-dimensional shape model, and associates these geometric features with each other. The apparatus then calculates the position and orientation of the target object using differences of distances on a three-dimensional space between the geometric features of the three-dimensional shape model and those on the range image, which are associated with each other.

2012-10-25

20120268568

METHOD AND APPARATUS OF REDUCING VISUAL VIBRATION OF A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY - A mobile computing device comprising one or more sensors and an electronic display is disclosed herein. The one or more sensors are adapted to determine a distance between the mobile computing device and a mobile computing device user, and are also adapted to determine a position of the mobile computing device relative to the mobile computing device user. The electronic display is adapted to modify visual content on the electronic display relative to a change in at least one of, the distance between the mobile computing device and a mobile computing device user, and the position of the mobile computing device relative to the mobile computing device user.

2012-10-25

20120268569

COMPOSITE CAMERA SYSTEM - An aspect of the invention provides a composite camera system that comprises a first camera including a first imaging unit; a second camera including a second imaging unit; a mount unit configured to detachably mount thereon the first camera and the second camera, wherein scenes captured by the first imaging unit and second imaging unit in a mounted state coincide with each other in vertical position; and a creation unit configured to create a three-dimensional image on the basis of images representing the scenes captured by the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit in the mounted state.

2012-10-25

20120268570

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING AND PROJECTING MOVING IMAGES IN THREE DIMENSIONS - A digital cinematographic and projection process that provides a means of 3D stereoscopic imagery that is not adversely affected by the standard frame rate of 24 frames per second, as is the convention in the motion picture industry worldwide. A method for photographing and projecting moving images in three dimensions includes recording a moving image with a first and a second camera simultaneously and interleaving a plurality of frames recorded by the first camera with a plurality of frames recorded by the second camera. The step of interleaving includes retaining odd numbered frames recorded by the first camera and deleting the even numbered frames, retaining even numbered frames recorded by the second camera and deleting the odd numbered frames, and creating an image sequence by alternating the retained images from the first and second camera.

2012-10-25

20120268571

MULTIVIEW FACE CAPTURE USING POLARIZED SPHERICAL GRADIENT ILLUMINATION - A multiview face capture system may acquire detailed facial geometry with high resolution diffuse and specular photometric information from multiple viewpoints. A lighting system may illuminate a face with polarized light from multiple directions. The light may be polarized substantially parallel to a reference axis during a parallel polarization mode of operation and substantially perpendicular to the reference axis during a perpendicular polarization mode of operation. Multiple cameras may each capture an image of the face along a materially different optical axis and have a linear polarizer configured to polarize light traveling along its optical axis in a direction that is substantially parallel to the reference axis. A controller may cause each of the cameras to capture an image of the face while the lighting system is in the parallel polarization mode of operation and again while the lighting system is in the perpendicular polarization mode of operation.

2012-10-25

20120268572

3D Video Camera and Associated Control Method - A 3D video camera is provided. The 3D video camera includes a first camera lens for providing a first sensing signal, a second camera lens for providing a second sensing signal, and an image processing unit for receiving the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal to generate a first eye image and a first comparison image to accordingly generate 3D depth information.

2012-10-25

20120268573

IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE FLUORESCENCE-OPTICAL VISUALIZATION OF AN OBJECT - An imaging system for the fluorescence-optical visualization of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object is provided. The imaging system comprising an illumination unit, which is designed and provided for emitting optical radiation in a predetermined wavelength range in order to illuminate the object and excite a fluorescent substance contained in the object, and a capturing unit, which is designed and provided for capturing an optical signal from the region of the object and for splitting the optical signal into a fluorescence signal having a first wavelength range and a signal of visible light having a second wavelength range. The optical capturing unit has an optoelectronic converter having a plurality of partial regions and serving for converting the fluorescence signal into a first electronic data signal and the signal of visible light into a second electronic data signal.

2012-10-25

20120268574

IMAGER INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE - An imager integrated circuit intended to cooperate with an optical system configured to direct light rays from a scene to an inlet face of the circuit, the circuit being configured to perform a simultaneous stereoscopic capture of N images corresponding to N distinct views of the scene, each of the N images corresponding to light rays directed by a portion of the optical system which is different from those directing the rays corresponding to the N-1 other images, including:

2012-10-25

20120268575

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND VIDEO DISPLAY METHOD - According to one exemplary embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes: a controller which determines whether to display 2D video or 3D video as video corresponding to a video signal according to a size of a display window in which the video corresponding to the video signal is to be displayed; an image processor which generates 2D video data or 3D video data based on the video signal according to a determination result of the controller; and a display module which displays, in the display window, any one of 2D video corresponding to the 2D video data and 3D video corresponding to the 3D video data.

2012-10-25

20120268576

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM - According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a display with a screen, an area of a part of the screen being settable in one of a three-dimensional video display mode of displaying three-dimensional video and a two-dimensional video display mode of displaying two-dimensional video. The apparatus further includes a detection module, a switch module, and a video display control module. The detection module is configured to detect a variation of a range of the area. The switch module is configured to switch the area to the two-dimensional video display mode, in a case where the detection module detects the variation of the range of the area when the area is set in the three-dimensional video display mode.

2012-10-25

20120268577

IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM, IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND SHUTTER DEVICE - An image display system includes an image display apparatus and a shutter device. The image display apparatus includes an image display section, a sync signal sending section which sends a sync signal for synchronizing display timings of the left-eye image and the right-eye image with the shutter device to the shutter device, and a protocol sending section which sends protocol information to the shutter device. The shutter device include a shutter section which transmits the left-eye image and the right-eye image, a shutter drive section which analyzes the sync signal received through a sync signal receiving section using the protocol information stored in a protocol storing section and drives the shutter section on the basis of the analysis result, and a protocol updating section which updates the protocol information stored in the protocol storing section.

TARGETS, FIXTURES, AND WORKFLOWS FOR CALIBRATING AN ENDOSCOPIC CAMERA - The present disclosure relates to calibration assemblies and methods for use with an imaging system, such as an endoscopic imaging system. A calibration assembly includes: an interface for constraining engagement with an endoscopic imaging system; a target coupled with the interface on as to be within the field of view of the imaging system, the target including multiple of markers having calibration features that include identification features; and a processor configured to identify from first and second images obtained at first and second relative spatial arrangements between the imaging system and the target, respectively, at least some of the markers from the identification features, and using the identified markers and calibration feature positions within the images to generate calibration data.

2012-10-25

20120268580

PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE WITH INTELLIGENT ROBOTIC FUNCTIONS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - Disclosed is a portable computing device with intelligent robotic functions, including: an input projector providing a user interface screen for user input and mounted with a camera for capturing and recognizing a user behavior on the user interface screen; a main board recognizing a user command according to the user behavior and generating service and contents according to the user command; and an output projector outputting the generated contents.

2012-10-25

20120268581

CONTROLLED ACCESS TO FUNCTIONALITY OF A WIRELESS DEVICE - Various embodiments of the invention may be used to verify that a person being authorized by biometric techniques to use a device is a living person and not some form of recording intended to spoof the system. Some embodiments may try to cause a change in a measured biometric feature, and compare images taken before and after the change to verify the change occurred. In some embodiments, multiple stages of verification may be used, either to increase the difficulty of spoofing the security system, or to provide different levels of security for different levels of access to the device's functionality.

Active Microscope Filter and Lighting System - The present invention discloses a unique and novel combination light source and active light filtering system for microscopes that eliminates the need for individual color filters, fluorescence filters, phase contrast filters, and many other filter types. The present invention provides almost unlimited light wavelength generation and filtering capabilities, as well as providing virtually unlimited dark field and phase contrast filter shapes, unique specimen lighting combinations, and all of the benefits of most commercially available light sources in a compact package that can be mounted on a microscope or used at a distance from a microscope, but be coupled to it through a fiber optic cable or other light transmission means. Additionally, the present invention eliminates the need for a filter wheel turret in a microscope's optical path, as well as eliminates the need for multiple fluorescent filter blocks in a fluorescent microscope optical path. The present invention can duplicate the functions of an almost infinite array of microscope filter systems to enable effective imaging of live cells without staining.

2012-10-25

20120268584

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DENSE-STOCHASTIC-SAMPLING IMAGING - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to imaging technologies, and, in particular, to an imaging system that detects relatively weak signals, over time, and that uses the detected signals to determine the positions of signal emitters. Particular embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for imaging fluorophore-labeled samples in order to produce images of the sample at resolutions significantly greater than the diffraction-limited resolution associated with optical microscopy. Embodiments of the present invention employ overlapping-emitter-image disambiguation to allow data to be collected from densely arranged emitters, which significantly decreases the data-collection time for producing intermediate images as well as the number of intermediate images needed to computationally construct high-resolution final images. Additional embodiments of the present invention employ hierarchical image-processing techniques to further resolve and interpret disambiguated images.

METHOD FOR ONLINE DETERMINATION OF CURE STATUS OF GLASS FIBER PRODUCTS - A method for assessing the cure status of a fibrous blanket manufactured with mineral fibers and binder is disclosed and comprises a using an online optical reflectance measurement as an assessment of cure status. The optical reflectance measurement may preferably be a color image taken of any surface, and in particular of a sectioned face, after which the image is optionally divided into multiple regions of interest (ROI) and analyzed for a color system variable that is representative of cure status. In some embodiments, the color system variable is the B value. Alternatively, the optical reflectance measurement may be UV or IR reflectance of a sectioned face. When two or more regions of interest are defined on a sectioned face, comparative information is valuable to assess cure at different levels, layers or portions of the interior of the fibrous product.

2012-10-25

20120268587

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A REMOTE VEHICLE - A system for controlling a remote vehicle, the system comprising: a hand-held controller having a plurality of buttons; a display including a graphical user interface having soft buttons; and a processor in communication with the hand-held controller and the display. Buttons of the hand-held controller are mapped to soft buttons of the graphical user interface to allow actuation of soft buttons of the graphical user interface, and the hand-held controller is capable of switching between two or more button function modes, wherein each button function mode assigns different functions to one or more of the buttons of the hand-held controller.

Motion Tracking - In one embodiment, one or more computing devices receive an identifying feature of a target entity, the identifying feature not requiring that the target entity to be in a line of sight of a camera for the camera to recognize the identifying feature; locate the target entity using the camera based on the identifying feature; and track the target entity using the camera based on the identifying feature.

2012-10-25

20120268590

EXTREME RANGE PHOTOGRAPHY USED TO COUNTER INSURGENCY (COIN) AND COUNTER IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES (CIED) - Provided is a system and method using extreme range photography for countering insurgency and improvised explosive devices. A weapons-mounted digital camera including a telephoto lens and a wireless communications interface in communication with a mobile computing device are employed to receive one or more images comprising one or more person. The image(s) are then processed, such as by using facial recognition software, to determine if corrective action is appropriate. A method of training personnel to use the system and method is also provided.

2012-10-25

20120268591

VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS AND VIDEO PROCESSING METHOD - One embodiment provides a video processing apparatus including: a sensor module configured to recognize a presence of a person; a video processor configured to output demo video relating to a function of the video processing apparatus; and a controller configured to control the video processor so that it starts outputting the demo video when the sensor module recognizes the presence of the person.

2012-10-25

20120268592

Processing Data of a User Performing an Athletic Activity to Estimate Energy Expenditure - Example embodiments may relate to a system, method, apparatus, and computer readable media configured for prompting a user to perform an exercise, monitoring form of the user while performing the exercise, and calculating an energy expenditure estimate for the user performing the exercise based on a type of the exercise and on the form of the user.

2012-10-25

20120268593

Surveillance Monitor - A surveillance monitor includes a monitor assembly and a control hub. The monitor assembly includes at least one display unit for displaying a predetermined image. The control hub includes a control housing and a control module. The control housing is positioned at a distance from the monitor assembly. The control module is electrically communicated with the monitor assembly, wherein the control module comprises a central processing unit and a control panel provided on the control housing, wherein the central processing unit is arranged to process video signals, and transmit the processed video signal to the monitor assembly for generating a corresponding video image on the monitor assembly, so that a user is able to control video display on the monitor assembly by conveniently controlling the control module which is distant away from the monitor assembly.

2012-10-25

20120268594

METHOD FOR FINDING PATHS IN VIDEO - A system for detecting behavior of a target may include: a target detection engine, adapted to detect at least one target from one or more objects from a video surveillance system recording a scene; a path builder, adapted to create at least one mature path model from analysis of the behavior of a plurality of targets in the scene, wherein the at least one mature path model includes a model of expected target behavior with respect to the at least one path model; and a target behavior analyzer, adapted to analyze and identify target behavior with respect to the at least one mature path model. The system may further include an alert generator, adapted to generate an alert based on the identified behavior.

2012-10-25

20120268595

REMOTE MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides a remote monitoring apparatus and method thereof. A short message sending unit is disposed in an image monitoring module used for detecting if the environment image is abnormal. When an abnormal environment image is detected, a corresponding monitoring message is produced. The short message sending unit produces an assigned short message according to the monitoring message produced by the image monitoring module and transmits the assigned short message to a short message server. The short message server then transmits the assigned short message to the corresponding mobile communication terminal via a network interface according to a user's name contained in the assigned short message. Accordingly, the present invention reduces the transmission platforms during the process a short message is sent from the image monitoring module to the mobile communication terminal, and thus reducing the delay of the short message and improving the efficiency of surveillance notification.

2012-10-25

20120268596

Secure Implementation of Network-Based Sensors - Sensing apparatus includes a network camera, which is configured to capture images of a scene and to output a sequence of data packets containing digitized video data responsively to the images. A one-way link is coupled to the network camera so as to transmit the data packets from the network camera to a packet communication network.

2012-10-25

20120268597

Monitoring System - To construct a system composed as described hereafter, capable of easily calling out monitoring data from a monitoring system, where task information along with index information is a key, and for which tracking by a task system is desired, by linking the index information of the monitoring data managed by the index information of the task information and monitoring system, with the storage location, and which is composed of a first and second type work area where tasks are performed, a monitoring system server, a monitoring data storage device, monitoring objects, a task system server, and a task data storage device.

2012-10-25

20120268598

SECURITY DEVICE - A lenticular device includes an array of lenticular focusing elements located over a corresponding array of pairs of image strips such that, in a first viewing direction, a first image strip from each pair is viewed by respective ones of the lenticular focusing elements and, in a second viewing direction, different from the first, a second image strip from eachpair is viewed by respective ones of the lenticular focusing elements, One of each pair of image strips has portions defining a first image in a first colour and a second image in a second colour respectively, and the other of each pair of image strips has portions defining the first image in the second colour and the second image in the first colour respectively, whereby on tilting the device, a colour switch is observed between the first and second images.

2012-10-25

20120268599

Video Monitoring System For A School Bus - A video camera system for a school bus or other vehicle to replace one or more of the mirror systems typically utilized on buses and vehicles today. One or two cameras can be positioned on the sides of the school bus in place of the rearview mirrors presently utilized. A pair of cameras with wide-angle lenses can be positioned on the front fenders of the school bus to replace the cross view mirrors currently used today on school buses. One or more cameras can also be positioned on the rear of the school bus to display the environment immediately behind the school bus. Video monitors displaying the images from the cameras can be positioned inside the school bus or vehicle for viewing by the driver.

2012-10-25

20120268600

METHODS FOR NOTIFYING A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ABOUT A DANGER SPOT AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS USING SUCH METHODS - A method and a driver assistance system for notifying the driver of a motor vehicle about a danger spot are provided. In an embodiment, the method includes providing informational data about the danger spot from a data storage device, providing current image data using a camera, and analyzing a current danger situation by comparing the current image data with the informational data using a central processing unit. A warning signal is outputted to the driver via an output unit depending on the current danger situation.

2012-10-25

20120268601

METHOD OF RECORDING TRAFFIC IMAGES AND A DRIVE RECORDER SYSTEM - A method of recording traffic images is to be implemented in a drive recorder system. The method includes recording the traffic images at a first recording frame rate, generating a detection signal according to movement of the vehicle, searching a pre-stored table to acquire a vehicle driving condition matching with the detection signal, and recording the traffic images at a second recording frame rate when the acquired vehicle driving condition corresponds to an alert condition. The second recording frame rate is greater than the first recording frame rate.

2012-10-25

20120268602

OBJECT IDENTIFYING APPARATUS, MOVING BODY CONTROL APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION PROVIDING APPARATUS - An object identifying apparatus is disclosed, including: an imaging part, and an object identification processing part. The imaging part receives two polarized lights having a different polarization direction included in light reflected from the object existing in the image pickup area and captures two polarization images. The object identification processing part conducts an identification process for identifying the object existing at a place corresponding to each of multiple process areas in the image pickup area by using the two polarization images captured by the imaging part.

2012-10-25

20120268603

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM - A system and method are disclosed. The system includes an user security portal operable to access live video feeds of areas of interest taken by a video camera. The user security portal includes an user interface operable to display an evaluation cycle. The evaluation cycle includes a security display window which displays the live video feeds of the monitored areas. In addition, the security display window includes evaluation parameters associated with the monitored areas and contingency action parameters which list action items to be taken in the event of a security breach of at least one evaluation parameters.

2012-10-25

20120268604

DUMMY SECURITY DEVICE THAT MIMICS AN ACTIVE SECURITY DEVICE - A dummy security device that includes some means of drawing attention to itself using a visual and/or audible means to thereby draw attention to the presence of the dummy security device, wherein the fact that the device is not a real security device is hidden from view, wherein the dummy security device is relatively inexpensive to purchase to thereby promote installation of many of the devices, and wherein an active detection means may be employed to enable the dummy security device to provide a visual and/or audible indication that the presence of a person has been detected.

2012-10-25

20120268605

IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE - An image display device may include a communication unit that receives frame images sequentially transmitted from image pickup devices, a display unit that displays the frame images, a storage unit that stores processible information on an amount of the frame images and priority information indicating priorities of the frame images, an acquisition unit that acquires status information, a determination unit that determines a data amount of the frame images transmitted by each of the image pickup devices within a predetermined period of time based on the processible information and the priority information stored in the storage unit and the status information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a control unit that performs control that causes information corresponding to the data amount determined by the determination unit to be transmitted from the communication unit to each of the plurality of image pickup devices.

2012-10-25

20120268606

DEVICE FOR REGISTERING AND MANAGING BOOK BASED ON COMPUTER VISION AND RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUE - The invention discloses a computer vision and radio frequency identification technology based book enrolment management apparatus, which completes the book enrolment flow in the one-apparatus, one-stop and one-step ways, and creates a new foundation for the future automatic book management requirement. The technical solution is that: the own characteristic of the book is extracted and analyzed by the embedded information technology, computer vision and image processing technology and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology so as to fast collect, store, rectify, combine and analyze the image and acquire the characteristic of each registered book, and record them in the storage database and the RFID tag.

2012-10-25

20120268607

IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND IMAGE ACQUISITION METHOD - An image processing system includes an illumination unit and an illumination control unit configured to adjust light emitted from the illumination unit so as to illuminate a limited area in a space, the system generates a timing signal for controlling emission/non-emission of light from the illumination unit, captures a first image of an imaging area including the limited area or part of the limited area based on the timing signal, the first image being taken from a position different from the illumination unit when the illumination unit emits light, captures a second image of the imaging area based on the timing signal, the second image being taken from the position when the illumination unit emits no light, and acquires a third image which is a difference image between the first image and the second image.

2012-10-25

20120268608

AUTOMATIC TRACKING CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CAMERA APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC TRACKING CAMERA SYSTEM HAVING SAME - An automatic tracking control apparatus for a camera apparatus having a panning or tilting function, comprising an object recognition unit to recognize an object in picked-up image, a tracking object setting unit to set the recognized object as tracking object, an output position setting unit to set a position in the image for outputting the image of the tracking object, a control computing unit to output drive signal to locate the tracked object at the output position, and an image output unit to output an image in which an indication of the tracking object is superimposed on the image. Automatic tracking is suspended to change the position of the tracking object in the image by the output position setting unit, and automatic tracking is restarted by outputting a drive signal for driving the camera apparatus to locate the tracked object at the output position.

2012-10-25

20120268609

VIDEO OBJECT DETECTING APPARATUS, VIDEO OBJECT DEFORMING APPARATUS, AND METHODS THEREOF - A video object detecting apparatus enables a user to not only simply watch the video but also to explore a video using a motion and a posture of the user. In addition, the user may manipulate the video using body motion instead of general input units such as a mouse and a touch system. Also, a video object deforming apparatus enables the user to recognize a difference in motions between an interactive video and the user, and provides the user with a video reflecting the difference.

2012-10-25

20120268610

INFORMATION TERMINAL CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING FILE - An information terminal capable of transmitting a file to another device includes a display unit; a storage unit for storing a relationship between an image and a transmission destination; a designation unit for designating the image as a standby image of the display unit; an operation unit for receiving an operation to instruct transmission of the file; and a processing unit for performing a process of transmitting the file to another device in accordance with the operation. The processing unit performs a process of specifying, as a transmission destination of the file, the transmission destination related to the image set as the standby image in the display unit at a time when the operation unit receives the operation, for transmitting the file.

2012-10-25

20120268611

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND PROGRAM THEREFOR - A portable terminal forms the same group with one or more portable terminals. The portable terminal receives photographed images that are photographed by the other portable terminals belonging to the same group and displays the received photographed images. The disclosure of this technology is applicable to, for example, an electronic apparatus such as a portable telephone.

2012-10-25

20120268612

ON-SITE COMPOSITION AND AESTHETICS FEEDBACK THROUGH EXEMPLARS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS - A comprehensive system to enhance the aesthetic quality of the photographs captured by mobile consumers provides on-site composition and aesthetics feedback through retrieved examples. Composition feedback is qualitative in nature and responds by retrieving highly aesthetic exemplar images from the corpus which are similar in content and composition to the snapshot. Color combination feedback provides confidence on the snapshot to contain good color combinations. Overall aesthetics feedback predicts the aesthetic ratings for both color and monochromatic images. An algorithm is used to provide ratings for color images, while new features and a new model are developed to treat monochromatic images. This system was designed keeping the next generation photography needs in mind and is the first of its kind. The feedback rendered is guiding and intuitive in nature. It is computed in situ while requiring minimal input from the user.

2012-10-25

20120268613

IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image capturing apparatus receives, using an imaging device, light fluxes passing through different areas of an exit pupil of an optical system independently and output an image signal obtained therefrom, calculates a correction value for the image signal corresponding to each of the different areas of the exit pupil to correct an influence from vignetting on the light fluxes due to shift of a shake correction unit in response to activation of the shake correction unit which corrects an image blur corresponding to a shake amount exerted on the image capturing apparatus, corrects the image signals using the calculated correction value, and performs focus control on a basis of a phase difference between the image signals which are subjected to correction.

2012-10-25

20120268614

IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device is described having an electro-mechanical image stabilization system capable of removing the effect on a generated image of vibration and angular movement of the device. The system includes a mechanical coupling interposed between the optics and the drive electronics of the device. The coupling ensures that movement generated by vibration is translated into linear movement of the optics and the drive electronics relative to each other.

2012-10-25

20120268615

PHOTOGRAPHING METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR USING SPECIAL EFFECTS - In a photographing apparatus, a user pre-selects a number of special effect modes to be applied to pictures not yet taken. The special effect mode selections are stored as an ordered set of special effect mode indicators. When the pictures are subsequently taken, the special effects are automatically applied in the order they were selected, based on the order reflected in the stored special effect mode indicators.

2012-10-25

20120268616

Self-Contained Wireless Camera Device, Wireless Camera System and Method - A self-contained wireless camera and a wireless camera system having such a device and a base station. Video processing (e.g. video compression) circuitry of the camera device receives video signals from a camera and provides processed video signals. These are transmitted over a shared radio channel. A radio receiver receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals from the base station or another camera device. Images from the camera or the base station are displayed in a selected manner on a display or monitor. The base station device receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals, stores them and retransmits them. A command signal is received by the radio receiver to modify operation in such a manner as to control bandwidth usage. Wireless camera devices can adjust their operation to accommodate other wireless camera devices. Different transport protocol modules can be selected according to the application that the user selects for operation.

2012-10-25

20120268617

ELECTRONIC CAMERA - An electronic camera includes an imaging section, an imaging controlling section, and an image processing section. The imaging section performs imaging of a subject image. The imaging controlling section makes the imaging section perform a photographing of moving image at a first frame rate at a time of performing moving image photographing, and makes the imaging section obtain images at a second frame rate which is a frame rate higher than the first frame rate when receiving an instruction of still image recording at the time of performing the moving image photographing. The image processing section generates a still image for recording by superimposing a plurality of images at the second frame rate.

2012-10-25

20120268618

ADAPTIVE COLOR IMAGING BY USING AN IMAGING ASSEMBLY WITH TUNABLE SPECTRAL SENSITIVITIES - Image capture using an image capture apparatus that includes an imaging assembly. Geographic location of the image capture apparatus is received from a location sensor that obtains geographic location of the image capture apparatus. A capture mask is constructed by calculations which use the geographic location. The constructed capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly, the imaging assembly having a tunable spectral response and being tunable in accordance with the capture mask.

2012-10-25

20120268619

IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS - An image sensor comprises a pixel array formed by arraying pixels in a column direction and a row direction; a column common readout unit provided for each pixel column in the pixel array; at least three readout channels which sequentially read signals from the column common readout units, respectively; and a readout channel selection unit which selects readout channels so that the signal is output from each of the column common readout units to a corresponding one of the at least three readout channels, wherein the readout channel selection unit selects readout channels, to which the signals are output from the column common readout units, in a predetermined pattern that varies in each individual row of the pixel array.

2012-10-25

20120268620

INFORMATION PROVIDING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - There is provided an information providing apparatus including a course information acquiring unit that acquires course information to which position information indicating positions of a predetermined plurality of spots and order information indicating an order of each spot are set, a photo acquiring unit that acquires photos taken in a predetermined area including the spots, a map making unit that makes a map where marks indicating the plurality of spots are displayed on the basis of the position information set to the course information, and a display control unit that sequentially sets the plurality of spots as display objects according to the order information set to the course information and causes a display unit to display the photos taken in the spots set as the display objects and a map of a predetermined range including the marks indicating the spots.

2012-10-25

20120268621

IMAGING APPARATUS, AZIMUTH RECORDING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Provided is an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit configured to capture an object according to an imaging start instruction and output a captured image, a geomagnetic sensor configured to detect geomagnetism, an imaging controlling unit configured to control components of the imaging unit in an imaging processing period from the imaging start instruction to the output of the captured image and determine an operation period of a magnetic field generating component affecting a detection value of the geomagnetic sensor, among the components of the imaging unit, an azimuth calculating unit configured to calculate an imaging azimuth based on the detection value detected by the geomagnetic sensor, in a period other than an operation period of the magnetic field generating component, during the imaging processing period, and a recording unit configured to record the imaging azimuths on a recording medium in association with the captured image.

2012-10-25

20120268622

OPTICAL FLOW BASED TILT SENSOR - A method is described for determining a description of motion of a moving mobile camera to determine a user input to an application. The method may involve capturing a series of images from a moving mobile camera and comparing stationary features present in the series of images. Optical flow analysis may be performed on the series of images to determine a description of motion of the moving mobile camera. Based on the determined motion, a user input to an application may be determined and the application may respond to the user input, for example, by updating a user interface of the application.

FRAME SELECTION TO PROVIDE FOR A ZERO SHUTTER LAG IN A DIGITAL CAMERA - An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates capturing an image in an electronic camera without having to wait for an image to settle or the camera to stabilize. Image frames are captured continuously. Data representing captured images is compressed. The compressed files are stored continuously, such that even before a shutter button is actuated, one or compressed image frames have already been recorded. When the shutter button is actuated, the largest of the compressed data files is selected for use, such as display, printing or transmission. Selection is made based on the size of the compressed image file.

2012-10-25

20120268625

ZOOM LENS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH ZOOM LENS - A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power in order from an object side to an image side. The second and fourth lens units move during zooming, and the first and third lens units do not move for zooming. A focal length fw of the entire zoom lens at a wide-angle end, a focal length ft of the entire zoom lens at a telephoto end, a focal length f

2012-10-25

20120268626

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELIMINATING GLARE - An apparatus and a method for eliminating glare are disclosed, wherein this method includes steps as follow. First, a first image is captured from an object when a first light source radiates light and a second light source is turned off, and a second image is captured from the object when the first light source is turned off and the second light source radiates light, wherein the first and second light sources are separate from each other. Then, a first glaring area is removed from the first image to create a first modified image, and a second glaring area is removed from the second image to create a second modified image. Then, the first and second modified images are merged to create a merged image.

2012-10-25

20120268627

SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD FOR SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix shape and a signal processing circuit that obtains a first video signal and performs processing for combining the first and second video signals. The signal processing circuit includes judging means that judges whether a pixel of interest in the pixel array unit is a pixel to be saturated during an exposure period, calculating means that sets the pixel of interest as a correction pixel and calculates a correction amount on the basis of a luminance value of the second video signal of a peripheral pixel of the correction pixel, and correcting means that applies the correction amount to a luminance value of the first video signal of the correction pixel to thereby correct a noise signal amount due to photo-charges leaking from the peripheral pixel into the correction pixel.

2012-10-25

20120268628

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus which corrects input image data on the basis of the image data and foreign substance information including information associated with a position and a size of a foreign substance adhering near an image sensor in an image capturing apparatus which has captured the image data includes a correction unit which corrects the image data on the basis of the image data and the foreign substance information so as to reduce an influence of a shadow of the foreign substance cast in the image data, a uniformity determination unit which determines uniformity of an image in a region surrounding the foreign substance in the image data, and a control unit which, when the uniformity determination unit determines that the uniformity is lower than a predetermined value, prevents the correction unit from correcting the image data.

2012-10-25

20120268629

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes: a determining unit determining, in image data including packs each including pixels and serving as a unit, a monotonic pack including pixels equal to a precedently image-processed preceding pixel and a normal pack other than the monotonic pack; a pixel row forming unit forming a pixel row including aligned pixels of the normal pack, while deleting the pixels of the monotonic pack; a pixel row processing unit processing the formed pixel row by inputting the pixel row to an image processing unit; and a supplementing unit supplementing an image processing result of the pixel row output from the image processing unit with, as an image processing result of the deleted pixels of the monotonic pack, a result of image processing by the image processing unit on the preceding pixel of the normal pack, to thereby obtain an image processing result of the image data.

2012-10-25

20120268630

SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING METHOD AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit having plural pixels arranged in a row direction and a column direction; a weighted addition unit performing weighted addition on pixel signals read out from the plural pixels as analog signals; an A/D converter performing A/D conversion of the pixel signals on which weighted addition is performed; and a computing unit computing the A/D converted pixel signals.

2012-10-25

20120268631

SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of light-receiving portions (PD) formed therein, a wiring layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, color filters formed on the wiring layer in a manner individually corresponding to the light-receiving portions (PD) of the semiconductor substrate, and partition walls each formed between the individual color filters. Each of the partition walls includes a lower layer portion and an upper layer portion, an upper surface of the lower layer portion is modified into a modified layer, and an interface for facilitating reflection of penetration light from outside is structured between the modified layer and the upper layer portion.

2012-10-25

20120268632

IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS WITH EXPOSURE CONTROLLER - An image sensing apparatus includes: an image sensor which generates an electrical signal commensurate with an amount of incident light, and has a photoelectric conversion characteristic comprised of a linear characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being linearly converted in relation to the amount of incident light, and a logarithmic characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being logarithmically converted in relation to the amount of incident light; an exposure evaluation value detector which detects an exposure evaluation value based on luminance information acquired from a subject in sensing an image of the subject; and an exposure controller which acquires a setting value for exposure based on the exposure evaluation value detected by the exposure evaluation value detector to control exposure of the image sensing apparatus, wherein the exposure controller determines a subject luminance for exposure setting based on the exposure evaluation value, and controls the exposure in such a manner that an output of the image sensor corresponding to the subject luminance for exposure setting is obtained from the linear characteristic area of the image sensor.

2012-10-25

20120268633

IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS - An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor, a determination unit which determines one image capturing mode, a driving unit which drives the image sensor by different driving methods in the respective image capturing modes, and a control unit which controls the operation of the driving unit. The image sensor includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed pixels, a predetermined number of vertical output lines arranged for each array of pixels, and a holding memory which holds pixel signals from pixels on rows. The control unit drives the image sensor in the first power save mode when a horizontal transfer period is not less than twice a vertical transfer period, and drives the image sensor in the second power save mode when the vertical transfer period is not less than twice the horizontal transfer period.

2012-10-25

20120268634

IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image sensor comprising a plurality of image sensing pixel groups is provided. Each of the image sensing pixel groups has a plurality of first pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in first and second directions for first and second numbers of divisions, respectively, and a plurality of second pixels each having photoelectric conversion portions arrayed in the first and second directions for third and fourth numbers of divisions, respectively. The photoelectric conversion portions comprising the first pixel and the second pixel have a function of photoelectrically converting a plurality of images formed by divided light fluxes of a light flux from an imaging optical system and outputting a focus detection signal for phase difference detection. The first and third numbers of division are coprime natural numbers, and the second and fourth numbers of divisions are coprime natural numbers.

2012-10-25

20120268635

IMAGING APPARATUS AND COLOR CONTAMINATION CORRECTION METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device which is provided with plural pixels arranged in two-dimensional array form on a photodetecting surface of a semiconductor substrate, pixels on even-numbered rows are shifted from pixels on odd-numbered rows by a half pixel pitch, color-filters are Bayer-arranged over the respective pixels of the odd-numbered rows, and color-filters are Bayer-arranged over the respective pixels of the even-numbered rows; and an imaging device driving section for reading shot image signals of the pixels of the odd-numbered rows and shot image signals of the pixels of the even-numbered rows divisionally in separate frames. A color contamination correction is performed on a shot image signal of a pixel of attention using shot image signals of plural pixels around the pixel of attention among shot image signals, read out divisionally, of the pixels of one of the odd-numbered rows.

2012-10-25

20120268636

SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - In a solid-state image sensing apparatus of an addressing method, a clock-conversion part generates a high-speed clock signal having a frequency two times or more the frequency of a low-speed clock signal. A signal processing part receives 10-bit pixel data through a horizontal signal line, performs predetermined signal processing, and passes parallel-format data to a switching part. The switching part selects each one bit of the parallel-format 10-bit data in a predetermined sequence to output from an output terminal using the high-speed clock signal from the clock-conversion part as a switching command, thus converts the parallel-format data into serial-format data, and passes it to an output buffer. The output buffer externally outputs differential output of normal video data and inverted video data individually from output terminals. Accordingly, the problems in power consumption, noises, and unnecessary radiation are solved, and higher-speed output is achieved.

2012-10-25

20120268637

CAPTURING REFLECTED LIGHT FROM A SAMPLING SURFACE - A mechanism is disclosed for capturing reflected rays from a surface. A first and second lens aligned along a same optical center axis are configured so that a beam of light collimated parallel to the lens center axis directed to a first side, is converged toward the lens center axis on a second side. A first light beam source between the first and second lenses directs a light beam toward the first lens parallel to the optical center axis. Second light beam source(s) on the second side of the first lens, direct a light beam toward a focal plane of the first lens at a desired angle. An image capturing component, at the second side of the second lens, has an image capture surface directed toward the second lens to capture images of the light reflected from a sample capture surface at the focal plane of the first lens.

2012-10-25

20120268638

CORRELATED DOUBLE SAMPLING DEVICE OF IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD THEREOF - A correlated double sampling device (CDS device) of an image sensor is provided. The CDS device is coupled to a plurality of light-sensing pixels arranged along a first direction. The CDS device of the image sensor includes a regulator and a sampling circuit. The regulator provides the light-sensing pixels with a first voltage so that at least one of the light-sensing pixels provides a first linear current and a second linear current according to the first voltage. The sampling circuit is coupled between a second voltage and the regulator and includes a first sampling unit and a second sampling unit to respectively receive the first linear current for a first duration and the second linear current for a second duration and to respectively and correspondingly output a first sampling signal and a second sampling signal.

2012-10-25

20120268639

MULTI-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed is a camera to provide images for use in multi-dimensional imaging. In an embodiment, the camera includes an image gathering lens operable to obtain a lens image of a visual, a plurality of optic modules operable to provide distinct focusing options for the lens image, a relaying module operable to relay at least part of the lens image to the plurality of optic modules and a plurality of capture devices operable to capture a plurality of distinct versions of the lens image from the plurality of optic modules relayed from the relaying module. In another embodiment, a multi-dimensional imaging system is provided that includes a camera, such as described above, and further includes a computing device operable to receive and display the plurality of distinct versions, and a data management module operable to receive data related to the distinct versions and to display the distinct versions on separate displays.

2012-10-25

20120268640

OPTICAL SYSTEM - An optical system includes: a reflective imaging element; and a liquid crystal display panel disposed on a light-incident side of the reflective imaging element, the liquid crystal display panel having a display surface which is inclined with an angle of no less than 45° and no more than 75° relative to a plane defined by the reflective imaging element, a viewing angle dependence of a contrast ratio of the liquid crystal display panel taking a central value in a direction inclined by 10° or more in a direction of tilt of the display surface from a normal of the display surface, and causes an image displayed on the display surface of the liquid crystal display panel to form an image at a position of planar symmetry with respect to the reflective imaging element as a plane of symmetry.

2012-10-25

20120268641

IMAGE APPARATUS - An image apparatus, including a main optical system that captures a first image, a sub optical system that captures a second image to assist capturing the first image, a display device that displays the first image and the second image in a live view, and a signal processor that controls at least one of a frame rate of the first image from the main optical system and a frame rate of the second image from the sub optical system. The signal processor controls the frame rate of the first image data and the second image data such that the first and second frame rates become the same, and the display device displays the first image and the second image on the display device.

2012-10-25

20120268642

DRIVING APPARATUS AND IMAGING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - Provided are a driving apparatus and an imaging device having the driving apparatus mounted thereon, the driving apparatus being capable of performing, with a simple configuration, driving in the Z-axis direction in addition to driving in a direction along the XY plane, reducing friction at the time of driving, and performing precise position holding at the time of stop. A driving apparatus includes: a frame, a contact body supported by the frame; a holder pressed against the contact body to be supported thereby; a VCM for relatively moving the frame in a direction along a support plane formed by the contact body; and a transducer for displacing, relative to the frame, the contact body in the Z-axis direction. When driving, the transducer causes the contact body to vibrate in the Z-axis direction so as to reduce a frictional force between the contact body and the holder.

2012-10-25

20120268643

IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING SYSTEM, AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes: a lens optical system including a lens and a stop; an imaging device including at least a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels on which light having passed through the lens optical system is incident; and an arrayed optical device arranged between the lens optical system and the imaging device, wherein: the lens optical system includes, in a plane vertical to an optical axis, a first optical area that transmits therethrough light of a first wavelength band and a second optical area that transmits therethrough light of a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; and the arrayed optical device makes light having passed through the first optical area incident on the plurality of first pixels and light having passed through the second optical area incident on the plurality of second pixels.